When managing your business, the last thing you want to be surprised with is equipment failure, especially when that machinery is vital to the productivity of your business.
Many companies will institute scheduled maintenance to prevent shutdowns. A successful maintenance plan needs detailed data from accurate surveys and efficient planning and scheduling to be practical. Many companies use preventative maintenance plans combined with thermographic surveys to ensure their operations are uninterrupted.
What Is Preventative Maintenance?
Preventative maintenance is an essential component of all professional maintenance programs. This proactive monitoring and maintenance scheme allows you to ensure the continued smooth operation of your assets. Thermal surveys in HV power, marine, construction or any other industry that relies on heavy machinery can promote predictive maintenance.
Preventative maintenance aims to prevent unexpected problems that will lead to equipment failure. Such failures can be very costly in both time and expenses to get the machinery fixed and operational again. Regular surveys and assessments will create the data necessary to inform preventative maintenance and catch any issues before they become disastrous for your business.
Why Is Preventative Maintenance Important?
Thanks to our thermal imaging services across the UK, Thermascan have assisted many businesses in acquiring vital data for their preventative maintenance programs. These companies have since gained the advantage of avoiding unexpected costs from broken-down machinery. They have also improved the safety of working environments, increased productivity and the machinery's lifespan.
The frequency and amount of preventative maintenance will vary depending on your industry, but the benefits of choosing this maintenance program are clear. Essentially, when it comes to machine maintenance, being prepared is always better than being caught unaware, and this is what effective preventative maintenance can achieve for you.
Thermal Imaging Applications
So, where does thermal imaging help with preventative maintenance? An early symptom of wear or malfunction across heavy machinery is producing heat. This can be revealed in both hotter and cooler areas, respectively. Here are some examples.
Thermal imaging electrical surveys have been a great addition to preventative maintenance for electrical systems. IR thermal cameras can quickly assess the state of electrical systems by monitoring the heat (or lack of) generated through the associated mechanical components. All electrical operating systems will generate a certain amount of heat as they operate, but too much heat may signify a potential overload or component failure. Alternatively, some systems may read as much colder than they should be, representing a lack of current and an inefficient component that needs repair.
- Poor connections
- Electrical leakage
- Defective insulators
- Internal fuse damage
- Oxidation of high voltage switches
These are all problems that can significantly affect the operation of your electrical systems, and they can all be identified through the appropriate use of a thermal imaging camera.
Thermal imaging plumbing surveys have become commonplace in diagnosing any issues with plumbing. Thermal imaging cameras are widely embraced as a tool for detecting leaks in the workplace as they can review your system far more efficiently than a conventional search.
This can be achieved either by spotting the heat of the water within the pipes or the cold, damp effect it has when leaked into the surrounding building. Additionally, much like electrical surveys, you can tell if your cooling or heating is working at optimum levels by reviewing its current temperatures throughout your building's piping with a thermal camera.
While there are specific requirements when conducting a thermal survey on your plumbing, such as needing to remove any intervening carpet, this is far more beneficial than the previous solution of having to remove the floor entirely.
- Non-destructive moisture detection
- Leaks in pipes
- Blockages
- Air conditioning efficiency
- Heating and insulation issues
These are all detectable, thanks to plumbing thermal imaging surveys with professional cameras. In regards to preventative maintenance, thermal cameras give you the benefits of being able to monitor the status of your existing system. As a plumber, It is invaluable to see any potential problems such as a growing blockage before it becomes debilitating to a client's plumbing. Noticing such issues early gives you the time to find the solution at a minimal cost.
Thermographic mechanical surveys are potentially the most significant addition to a maintenance schedule, beneficial to almost every industry. There are many signs that a piece of machinery will fail, but very few are visible to the naked eye. Even the best-case scenario for equipment failure will result in costly shutdowns and expensive repairs. The worst-case results can even be hazardous to your team, especially within industrial plant environments where machinery is dangerous.
- Overheating machines or equipment
- Overheating bearings
- Misalignment or lack of lubrication
Thermal imaging can reveal all of these with a high-quality thermal camera. In addition, the increased friction from a wearing bearing will give off an unusual amount of heat that can easily be observed and recorded for future preventative maintenance, thereby limiting the cost compared to a long-term shutdown and parts replacement.
The most significant aspect of using these cameras common to all the above surveys is the non-invasive nature of their observations. Our catalogue of high-end thermal imaging cameras allows our certified engineers to view any size of machinery or building swiftly and visibly see any potential problems without having to cease operations or remove wall panels.
Thermal Imaging Survey Experts
At Thermascan, we understand the importance of thermal imaging for practical preventative maintenance on your site.
You can learn more about our popular thermographic surveys service here. These surveys are conducted by our team of level two certified field engineers. These experts regularly conduct thermographic inspections and surveys on-site and can be hired either on a one-off basis or as part of a regular maintenance program.